WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (April 11, 2016) – This past weekend, the Franklin Pierce University women's rowing team battled illness and dismal weather conditions on Lake Mercer at the Knecht Cup Regatta in West Windsor Township, N.J.

The first day of rowing saw the Ravens scratch their Varsity 4+ entry due to illness, as well as a last-place finish by their Second Varsity 4+ and the Frosh 4+ qualifying for semi finals, but failing to advance any further. Day one ended with races being suspended due to the weather, moving the Varsity 8+ to the second day of the regatta.

The Second Varsity Four, comprised of freshman coxswain Grace Walker (Greenfield, Mass.), sophomore Danielle Clarke (Fairfield, Conn.), freshmen Rebecca Davies (Washington Township, N.J.) and Shelby Telega (South Deerfield, Mass.), and senior Bailee Desforges (Bridport, Vt.) began the morning with a good effort against some very strong competition, finishing the course in 9:35.67 and in sixth place behind Bucknell, Tulsa (8:29.44), University of Connecticut (8:38.72), Philadelphia (8:40.03) and Delaware (8:42.76).

Later in the morning, the Freshman Four, composed of freshman coxswain Hannah Eldridge (Whitinsville, Mass.), Kyra Fairley (Kingston, N.Y.), Mackenzie Hitch (Oregon, Ohio), Julia Canova (Avon, Conn.) and Onyeris Lopez-Maldonado (Hyde Park, Mass.), lined up against NE-10 counterparts Merrimack College, as well as Boston College, Duquesne, UConn and Penn State in their opening heat. The Ravens stumbled early in the race but managed to hold on to fourth place with a time of (9:27.22), behind Boston College (8:33.84), Duquesne (8:59.84) and Merrimack (9:03.39), and ahead of UConn (10:05.26) and Penn State (10:38.84). The time was fast enough amongst the five heats of freshmen boats to allow the Ravens to advance on to the afternoon semifinal.

The semifinal proved difficult for the Ravens, who rowed the 2000-meter course in 9:17.58, which was good for fifth place in the semifinals behind Boston College (8:18), Lafayette (8:23.41), Princeton (8:44.42) and the University of New Hampshire (9:00.33).

Day two saw the Ravens take to the water in the rescheduled DI/II event, facing off against three East Region foes, including last year's National Champion runner-up, Mercyhurst, along with Philadelphia, Charleston and Lafayette.

The Women's Varsity Eight, also battling illness, could not hold on to the field and finished in fourth place with a time of 7:56.67, behind Mercyhurst (7:02.5), Philadelphia (7:12.83), Lafayette(7:21.34) and Charleston (7:35.89).

The V8+ was led by senior coxswain Mary Quinn (Erie, Pa.), along with Fairley, Hitch, junior Nicole Rode (Thomaston, Conn.), senior Kasie Tucker (Bow, N.H.), freshman Marykate Cullinane (Medford, Mass.), junior Kirsten Salois (Pelham, N.H.), Canova and Lopez-Maldonado.

Next weekend, the Ravens travel to Lowell, Mass. for the River Hawk Invitational on April 16.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce rowing apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).